Vintage cars pass the Carnival Paradise while the cruise ship is docked in Havana, Cuba. (Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line)
Following strong response to its first-ever cruises to Cuba announced earlier this year, Carnival Cruise Line has added five more voyages featuring extended calls in Havana in 2018.
The new voyages include three five-day cruises to Havana and Cozumel or Key West departing Feb. 17, July 2 and Sept. 5, 2018; a six-day sailing featuring Havana and Grand Cayman departing Aug. 26, 2018; and an eight-day voyage with stops at Havana, Grand Cayman and Cozumel departing Aug. 18, 2018.
All of the voyages include a day-long call and overnight in Havana with the eight-day cruise of Aug. 18, 2018, offering two full days at the historic Cuban capital.
The Carnival Paradise passes the historic El Morro Castle in Havana, Cuba. (Sven Creutzmann/Carnival Cruise Line)
The Carnival Paradise arrives in Havana Harbor in Havana, Cuba. (Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line)
A horse-drawn carriage passes the Carnival Paradise while the cruise ship is docked in Havana, Cuba. (Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line)
Vintage cars pass the Carnival Paradise while the cruise ship is docked in Havana, Cuba. (Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line)
A Cuban taxi driver, piloting a vintage car, pulls up to the El Morro Castle while the Carnival Paradise cruise ship is docked in Havana, Cuba. (Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line)
People dine at La Divina Pastora in Havana, Cuba, with the Carnival Paradise in the distance. Photo by Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Paradise guests can select from nearly 20 different shore excursion experiences that showcase Cuba’s vibrant culture, majestic beauty and centuries-old architectural landmarks.
Aboard Carnival Paradise, guests enjoy an array of amenities and a full schedule of daytime activities and nighttime entertainment, including newly added Cuban-themed entertainment and activities. Dining options include two full-service main dining rooms and expansive poolside eatery with a 24-hour pizzeria.
The ship also features a 12,000-square-foot Spa Carnival health and wellness facility and an exclusive Serenity adults-only retreat. Family-friendly programming includes Seuss at Sea in partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises as well as fun, supervised activities for kids in three age groups. Four swimming pools and a 115-foot-long cascading water slide are also featured.
The visits to Havana comply with regulations of the U.S. Department of Treasury that permit travel operators to transport approved travelers to Cuba to engage in activities as defined by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Foreign Assets Control.
To learn more about Carnival Cruise Line, visit Carnival.com. For reservations, contact any travel agent or call 1-800-CARNIVAL.
Viking Partners with Libera Boys Choir, Ballet Sun Valley and the Hollywood Bowl
Viking Cruises has expanded its portfolio of partnerships with premier cultural institutions, with a summer season of events around the country. Viking has signed on to sponsor the United States tour of the acclaimed English boys choir, LIBERA, and the Ballet Sun Valley international festival this summer. The company has also extended its sponsorship of the Los Angeles Philharmonic at The Hollywood Bowl for the fifth consecutive season. These new partnerships build on Viking’s commitment to drive cultural insight and personal enrichment, with current partners that include National Geographic’s “Genius,” PBS’ MASTERPIECE, TED, The Metropolitan Opera, BBC, Highclere Castle, RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Oslo’s Munch Museum, St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatre, among others.
“Viking’s commitment to cultural exploration extends far beyond the walls of our ships,” said Karine Hagen, Senior Vice President of Viking Cruises. “One of the best ways to explore a destination – whether at home or abroad – is through its music and cultural institutions. We are proud to support world renowned organizations, such as the Libera Boys Choir, Ballet Sun Valley and The Los Angeles Philharmonic, that align with our goal to create special connections between travelers and the cultures of the world.”
Celebrating 20 years of innovation and growth in 2017, Viking’s summer of cultural programming arrives on the heels of high acclaim for its immersive destination-focused offerings, having recently been named a #1 Ocean Cruise Line and one of the Best River Cruise Lines by Travel + Leisure readers in the 2017 World’s Best Awards. Continuing its commitment to cultural exploration both onboard and off board, Viking’s summer sponsorships include:
LIBERA Boys Choir U.S. Tour: In celebration of their new album Hope, the acclaimed English boys choir that participated in the 2016 christening of Viking Sea in London, is currently on a Viking-sponsored five-city U.S. tour. Three-time Classical BRIT nominees, LIBERA is among the top selling classical artists worldwide in countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea and the Philippines, and their work holds a place alongside major artists such as Bocelli. Viking Founder and Chairman Torstein Hagen, a supporter of classical music in its many forms, and a group of Viking colleagues from its headquarters, recently attended the choir’s performance in Westlake Village, Calif. For more information, visit www.libera.org.uk.
Ballet Sun Valley Summer Festival, featuring Xander Parish: Viking is the lead sponsor of the Ballet Sun Valley international festival, which runs August 21-24 and features dancers from six of the world’s leading ballet companies, including the American Ballet Theatre and London’s Royal Ballet. This unique festival was curated by Sun Valley-native and American Ballet Theatre dancer, Isabella Boylston, and will showcase a world premiere by emerging choreographer Gemma Bond, whose piece was inspired by the solar eclipse happening the day before the first performance. The one-night only world premiere on August 24 will feature video design by Kate Duhamel and a live orchestra under the direction of Maestro Martin West. Xander Parish, a close friend to Viking – and the first Briton to be promoted to principal dancer with the Mariinsky Ballet – will be performing in several “Mixed Repertoire” performances during Ballet Sun Valley. The historic Mariinsky Theatre, upon whose stages have debuted the masterpieces of such great composers as Peter Tchaikovsky, is home to the world-renowned Mariinsky Ballet, Opera and Orchestra. Guests on Viking’s river cruises through Russia have for years enjoyed onboard performances by Mariinsky singers through Viking’s Privileged Access program—and now many of Viking’s ocean cruises also feature similar performances. For more information on Ballet Sun Valley, visit www.balletsunvalley.com.
Los Angeles Philharmonic at The Hollywood Bowl: For the fifth consecutive year, Viking is sponsoring six Los Angeles Philharmonic concerts at their historic summer home, The Hollywood Bowl. The Viking concert series, beginning August 10, features music by European composers whose home countries are destinations on many of Viking’s river and ocean cruise itineraries, including Antonio Vivaldi (Italy), Pyotr Tchaikovsky (Russia), Wolfgang Mozart (Austria), Ludwig van Beethoven (Germany), and Johann Sebastian Bach (Germany). For more information, visit www.laphil.com.
For additional information, contact Viking Cruises at 1-855-8-VIKING (1-855-884-5464) or visitwww.vikingcruises.com.
This article is brought to by Cruise Compete. CruiseCompete.com allows you to easily compare multiple offers from Cruise Experts.
I woke up as the ship was getting ready to enter the Port Canaveral Channel. My daughter Meagan came out to join me, and we watched from our balcony. To our left, we watched storm clouds emitting lightning across the sky as we moved closer to Port Canaveral. The ship moved slowly through the channel as it edged closer to the terminal. We would be the only cruise ship in port this morning. It was very peaceful watching the Port Canaveral Beach and Jetty Park Campground approach. The new Royal Caribbean Terminal and Exploration Tower was illuminated with beautiful LED lighting emitting a rainbow of colors. I had not seen this before; It was wonderful. I hope they light all of the other terminals similarly.
The beautiful Atrium of Carnival Liberty
Debarkation
Soon everyone was awake, and we readied ourselves for the day. We exited our cabin for the last time and went to have breakfast in the Main Dining Room. We all enjoyed our breakfast and then went up to Deck 5 and sat near the Casino until our number was called. Soon it was time to go, and we walked down to the Deck 3 and into the terminal.
Once inside the terminal, we located our bags. A Porter loaded our bags on his cart, and we then went to Customs. At this Cruise Terminal, Porter’s have an Express Lane to Customs. We also found out they no longer ask for a customs declaration form as in the past at Port Canaveral. The officer said some other Cruise Ports like Miami were also not asking for them. You only have to fill them out when you are bringing back a lot of items or money. The process was very smooth and enjoyable.
Our Porter brought us directly to the Park-N-Cruise Shuttle, and the driver loaded our bags onto the shuttle for us. We then took our seats and were soon brought to the Park-N-Cruise lot where our van was waiting for us. You may recall we purchased the Express Valet Service from Park-N-Cruise. The shuttle pulled right up next to our van, and the driver unloaded our bags for us. We only walked a few steps with our bags, loaded them in our van and we drove towards our home.
Thank you very much for reading these posts day after day and allowing me to share my families cruise experience with you. I would also like to thank, Carnival Cruise Line for hosting us on this trip.
Today we woke up early once again and watched from our Balcony as we docked in Freeport. Everyone got ready, and we made our way to the Main Dining Room for Breakfast. Everything was cooked perfectly and arrived quickly. It was such a pleasure not having to get up because we forgot butter for the pancakes or wanted another cup of coffee in the buffet area. I think the Main Dining Room makes any meal on board more relaxing. The only exception to this rule is Lunch Time on a Port Day when almost everyone is not aboard the ship. Then you have full run of the Buffet area. You can easily get around with little or no lines at all the buffet stations.
HOT, HOT, HOT!
After Breakfast, we went to meet in the Venetian Palace theatre for our day’s excursion. We are going on a four and a half hour Beach Getaway which includes a 30-minute bus ride to and from the beach. We arrived, checked-in, and then lined up. Soon we exited the theatre and made our way off the ship. Once outside we; and what seemed like 300 other cruisers, waited for our buses to arrive. Before long, it started getting hot in the open sun. It was so hot grown men, grabbed cardboard boxes from a trash container to shade themselves. Soon it was announced that the buses were running late, but our time at the beach would start when we arrived. During this time other buses came. However, they were not for us. About ten more minutes passed, and the first tour bus arrived for our group, and people began boarding. Six minutes later the second bus arrived, and it was a large double decker bus. However, before long the two buses pulled away. Nothing more was told to our group. Now we had gone from hot to over-heated, and people in the group were getting disgruntled. I walked over and asked the tour operator if more buses were coming and they said yes, but unfortunately they couldn’t be specific about how long the wait would be. When I returned to my family, my youngest daughter began crying due to the extreme heat from waiting almost an hour curbside. Due to this, I asked the tour supervisor if we could cancel the excursion. She said yes and was very kind and understanding. I later spoke to the Shore Excursion Manager onboard to double check things. He provided us with a full refund and apologized for the problems. To be honest, this was a first time I ever had to cancel an excursion, but things happen. I write this not to complain, but to show nothing is perfect. We chose to do something different due to the above, and it turned out to be a beautiful day.
Plan B
Next, we moved out of the sun to relax and get rejuvenated. How do you recover from this with two young girls? Go shopping of course! So we made our way to the local market for some shopping. Both girls had their hair braided as well. Meagan had a half- braid and Savannah a quarter. They enjoyed it and wanted to keep it in for a long time. Next, they did some more retail therapy buying some local items. Before long we were back on the ship. My youngest was thrilled to find the ship’s slide with NO LINE, and we had barely any wait at the Mongolian Wok for Lunch.
New Places Onboard
I took this extra time on board to look around and check out the Ole’ Fashioned BBQ. I sampled some of the meat and sides and found them to be just as good as the Guy’s Pig & Anchor BBQ. The selection of meat and sides were limited to Pork Butt, Chicken, and Smoked Beef. The sides were also limited in number, but just as good.
Ol’ Fashioned BBQ aboard Carnival Cruise Line
Ol’ Fashioned BBQ aboard Carnival Liberty
Ol’ Fashioned BBQ aboard Carnival Liberty
Guy Fieri Sauces at Ol’ Fashioned BBQ aboard Carnival Cruise Line
Sauces at Ol’ Fashioned BBQ aboard Carnival Cruise Line
Ol’ Fashioned BBQ aboard Carnival Cruise Line
Ol’ Fashioned BBQ aboard Carnival Liberty
Fresh Rolls at the Ol’ Fashioned BBQ aboard Carnival Liberty
Ol’ Fashioned BBQ
Ol’ Fashioned BBQ aboard Carnival Cruise Line
Ol’ Fashioned BBQ aboard Carnival Liberty
Ol’ Fashioned BBQ aboard Carnival Cruise Line
Guy Fieri Sauces at Ol’ Fashioned BBQ aboard Carnival Cruise Line
They even offer Guy’s BBQ Sauces. It was nice to see this offered onboard Carnival Liberty, and I hope you try it for yourself. I also went to look at the Seafood Shack onboard. I wanted to try the Buffalo Shrimp bucket, but I filled up on the BBQ and Mongolian Wok. The Seafood Shack is a great new addition for Seafood lovers. For a fee, you can order New England Clam Chowder, Fried Seafood Buckets, Steamed Crab and The Catch Of The Day and more at Market Price. For a detailed list take a look at the Seafood Shack Menu. One thing is sure on this ship. You won’t be limited on your choices of great food. After several hours of pool and slide time on deck, we returned to our cabin to get cleaned up for Dinner.
Into The Ships Galley
Last night we were invited to come to the ships gallery for a pre-dinner tasting. So tonight we made sure to be at our meeting spot on time.We didn’t know how many people would be joining us. I thought it might be some variation of a Galley tour, so we it made a point to be on time. We loved the experience and enjoyed tasting the many different dishes on that night’s menu.
A Pre-Dinner Tasting aboard Carnival Liberty
The Chef explained how the dishes were prepared. For example, the soup stock took 72hrs to make. He went on to explain the many ingredients included in the dishes. My wife and I later talked at dinner how the brief explanation on the dinner menu’s, didn’t convey the complexity of each dish.
Before leaving the dining room, the waiters put on a great show and farewell song.
One More Night
When we left dinner, we had to make one last stop at the Cherry On Top for more Candy for our girls. Everyone chose to see the America Rock’s, Playlist Production show. We arrived a little early and were given Bandanas and Glow sticks. They even were doing face painting for all the guests young and old right on the stage. The show was performed by an incredible live band and featured pyrotechnics and lasers throughout the performance. It was a great blend of live music, dance and memorable vocal performances. The two production shows during this cruise have been a true highlight of our trip.
After the show, we followed the Cruise Director to the ship’s atrium and participated in the Sing Along with hundreds of others. It was a lot of fun. As I mentioned before, Chis Donkey Salazar is a great Cruise Director. I hope you get a chance to take a cruise on one of his ships. Once the show was over it was time for us to start packing our luggage and set them outside the door.
This morning we woke up early so we could be off the ship at a reasonable time. We watched from our balcony as we sailed into Nassau, Bahamas. It was a beautiful sight as the Sun shined behind the Hog Island Lighthouse, located at the tip of Paradise Island. This lighthouse was built back in 1817 when the island was previously known as Hog Island. Since this time it has welcomed countless Mariners and Cruise Addicts to Nassau Harbor.
The Hog Island Lighthouse, located at the tip of Paradise Island. The lighthouse was built back in 1817 when the island was known by its previous name Hog Island. Since this time it has welcomed countless Mariners and Cruise Addicts to Nassau Harbor.
We then got ready for breakfast and made our way up to the Lido Deck for Breakfast at Emile’s Lido Buffet. To be honest, I prefer the Main Dining Room for Breakfast. I knew it would be busy at this time but, we tried the buffet. Next time we’ll be sure to visit the Main Dining Room.
Land, Ho! – Nassau Day Passes
My Girls and Carnival Liberty in Nassau, Bahamas
We have been to Nassau many times, so I wanted to do something unique and different. To my surprise, the prices of Excursions here have increased in my opinion. Maybe I’m just getting old? But it seems like they are expensive. I had read allot about Day Passes for cruise passengers as an alternative to the many tours offered by the cruise line.
I did allot of research and tried to make this a special day for the whole family. As our sailing date approached I still hadn’t booked anything. I doubled my efforts to find a Nassau Day Pass that would work for us. I heard excellent things about Breezes All-Inclusive Package but, it didn’t allow for Children under 14. So I then looked into the All-Inclusive RIU Palace Paradise Island. The offering was very enticing but unfortunately was Adults-Only. Early in my research, I had heard how the British Colonial Hilton was primarily for business travelers and offered a quiet, relaxing experience that was perfect for families. It also included many things other’s charged for like towels, non-motorized water sports equipment, etc. So shortly before our cruise, I purchased a Day Pass for three Adults and one child. Tickets cost $79 for each Adult and come with food and drink credit of $40. Child pass pricing applies to children ages 6-12 and cost $39 and include a $20 food & beverage credit. Children 5 and under play and eat FREE! Towels and non-motorized water toys included, so you don’t have to be bothered carrying them off the ship.
After breakfast, we exited the ship and took a short 10 minute walk to the British Colonial Hilton. This historic hotel location dates back to 1901 as the Colonial Hotel. It has changed names and brand’s but, is a real jewel of the Bahamas. It was used as a filming location for not one, but two James Bond films Thunderball (1965) and Never Say Never Again (1983 unofficial remake). Both of these movies Starred one of my favorite lead actor’s, Sean Connery.
British Colonial Hilton – Nassau, Bahamas
British Colonial Hilton – Nassau, Bahamas
British Colonial Hilton – Nassau, Bahamas
British Colonial Hilton – Nassau, Bahamas
The Beach at the British Colonial Hilton – Nassau, Bahamas
The Beach at the British Colonial Hilton – Nassau, Bahamas
British Colonial Hilton – Nassau, Bahamas
Comfy Chairs Poolside
British Colonial Hilton – Nassau, Bahamas
Comfy Chairs Poolside at the British Colonial Hilton – Nassau, Bahamas
British Colonial Hilton – Nassau, Bahamas
British Colonial Hilton – Nassau, Bahamas
Comfy lounge chairs poolside.
Chess Game at the British Colonial Hilton – Nassau, Bahamas
Ping Pong tables at British Colonial Hilton – Nassau, Bahamas
Day Beds at British Colonial Hilton – Nassau, Bahamas
British Colonial Hilton – Nassau, Bahamas
Day Beds at the British Colonial Hilton – Nassau, Bahamas
The Beach at the British Colonial Hilton – Nassau, Bahamas
A view of the Hotel from the pool.
Bahamian Condiments
The Beach at the British Colonial Hilton – Nassau, Bahamas
Steakburger Meal available at British Colonial Hilton – Nassau, Bahamas
Jerk Chicken Legs available at British Colonial Hilton – Nassau, Bahamas
Hot Dog Meal available at British Colonial Hilton – Nassau, Bahamas
Looking at the British Colonial Hilton from our Balcony Cabin
If you have a Hilton Honors account you can even ask for the Wi-Fi Password and get FREE Wi-Fi that even works great on the beach and
Senor Frogs Photo – Nassau, Bahamas
Pool area. If you don’t have a Hilton Honors account you can buy wifi for the day for $10.99 when you check-in. If book this Day Pass, visit BahamasDayPass.com. When booking this online, you will make a deposit to reserve your tickets. On the day you arrive at the hotel, you will pay the balance at the front desk. Once checked-in you’re given a wrist band, and they apply a food and beverage credit to your account.
During our stay, everyone was very nice and friendly. The hotel and grounds were clean and inviting. We arrived early and had our choice of a shaded lounge chair and table by the beach. Later on we jumped in the pool and cooled off. Before long we were ready for Lunch and ordered Jerk Chicken Legs, A Steakhouse Burger, and Hot dog meal. Each meal came with fries and side salad. The food was excellent and the portions exeeded our expectations. The whole experience was fantastic. The hotel and grounds are simply beautiful.
Later in the day we returned to the ship and on the way back purchased a few Bahamas tshirts for the girls. We got back on board around 3 pm and treated ourselves to some pizza and ice cream. Soon we returned to our stateroom for a short rest and watched as sailed away from our staterooms balcony.
Tonight, Tonight
The Coffee Bar Menu aboard Carnival Liberty
It was time to head out for the evening. On our way to Dinner, we went to the Video Arcade and had fun. We all love the family air hockey game (Four Can Play). After the Arcade my wife and I wanted to stop at Coffee Bar before Dinner. We both tried a Iced Vanilla Lattes. They were delicious and gave us a nice boost after a full day in the Bahamian Sun.
On our way to Dinner we stopped and looked at the many photos’ the ship’s photographers had taken of us so far. We then headed to the Main Dining Room for dinner. We weren’t seated before long before my youngest daughter requested Shah, the Table Artist. Soon he arrived and amazed us with another table-side magic show just for us. He is an incredible showman.
Dinner was incredible once again. A highlight for me was the Escargot, Conch Fritters and Pumpkin soup. I tried the Buttered Popcorn Pot De Creme’ for the first time. It comes in a small cup with a few pieces or caramel popcorn on top of a vanilla custard. It reminded me of a Creme’ Brulee. I would choose this over creme brulee because it had less of the thick sugar topping and more of the custard (my favorite).
It’s Showtime!
It’s moments like this where I just love cruising. We now have a choice of activities to do. Everyone chose to watch Hasbro the Game Show! During the show, my youngest daughter tried hard to become a contestant.
Hasbro, The Game Show aboard Carnival Liberty
However, some of the questions were a bit tricky. The show was full of energy and excitement. Even though our family didn’t get picked, it is great to see other families participating. It’s just like your really on a TV Game Show set. Afterward, we called it a night after a busy day.
What Tomorrow Brings
Tomorrow we will be docking in Freeport, Bahamas in this morning. We will then be taking an excursion for a Beach Getaway. We are looking forward to another beautiful island and day in the Sun. We also have been invited to a pre-dinner event, so stay tuned.
Flix, A Playlist Production aboard Carnival Liberty.
There’s something about truly being on vacation when you don’t have to set any alarm. And this is what we did this morning.
Being our first full day aboard I checked the Carnival HUB App for where we could find some breakfast.
Did I mention I love this App?
hey pork chop – A Flame roasted, double cut thick pork chop, is topped with caramelized onion, gorgonzola cream, side of fries and blistered beans in bbq sauce.
I found something better; the Sea Day Brunch offered in the Main Dining Room. It had a great selection of Breakfast, Pasta, and even Lunch dishes if you desired. It fit the needs of the entire family. I chose the hey pork chop, which hit the spot and kick-started my day.
Pool Time!
Carnival’s Mango Madness for the girls
After Lunch, we found seats poolside and enjoyed the many sights and sounds of some of the day’s activities. My girls enjoyed the fun watching the Men’s Hairy Chest Contest and all of the group dances that followed. My family tirelessly tried to get me to become a contestant in the Hairy Chest Contest. I almost participated, but they picked the Eight players before I could get down to the pool. Maybe next time.
There was plenty of lounge chairs available on the open decks and in the Serenity Area. We went back to sit near the same place we scouted out the day before right near the stairs up to the slide. Soon the Sun and fun had taken a toll on us.
Before leaving, we bought one of our favorite frozen Carnival drinks, A Kiss On The Lips. The kids’ version is called a Mango Madness, and we enjoyed the cold drinks after time in the sun.
Dinner and A Show
After a small break, we got ready for Any Time Dining. It was elegant night onboard. The girls love to dress up and get their photos taken by the ship’s photographers. They captured amazing images, and we are looking forward to seeing them developed. We stopped by the Video Arcade for a few games. One of the games is called Typhoon, and it simulates being on a runaway train, flying and more. It even has fans to let you feel the wind in your hair.
Soon we headed to our designated Any Time Dining room. We had no wait at all and sat at a comfortable booth type table. After we had ordered our drinks, a Table Artist named Shah visited us. He performed several magic tricks right at our table, just for us. He was fantastic. It was the first time I had met a Table Artist aboard Carnival or any other cruise line. We enjoyed this very much.
Shah, Carnival’s Table Artist performing Magic Trick’s.
Dinner was delicious. We always loved the fresh selection of bread and choice of soups. It is these small things that we enjoy so much. Now don’t get me wrong the Prime Rib with Baked Potato and Carnival Chocolate Melting Cake was a highlight of our day. It’s just the small touches that make the whole experience unique and extraordinary.
Once our Dinner concluded, we made our way to the Venetian Palace Theatre. We typically try to get to the shows slightly earlier to have a chance to pick great seats. For this show, we got center-stage for Flix, a playlist production show. The show was incredible.
Flix, A Playlist Production aboard Carnival Liberty.
Flix, A Playlist Production aboard Carnival Liberty.
Flix, A Playlist Production aboard Carnival Liberty.
Flix, A Playlist Production aboard Carnival Liberty.
Flix, A Playlist Production aboard Carnival Liberty.
Flix, A Playlist Production aboard Carnival Liberty.
The Audience watching Flix, A Playlist Production aboard Carnival Liberty.
Flix, A Playlist Production aboard Carnival Liberty.
Flix, A Playlist Production aboard Carnival Liberty.
Flix takes you on a journey like no other with enchanting music, dance, and visual effects. It was one of the best production shows I have ever seen. We left the theatre talking about how many things in the show we hadn’t seen before. The show and dinner capped off a wonderful day filled with new and unique experiences.
Our Mini-Van was clean, coffee cups filled and we had a full tank of fuel. It would take only Two Hours and Eighteen Minutes from our front door to the Park-N-Cruise facility near Port Canaveral. It is a beautiful day outside with lovely blue skies this morning. The drive over from the Sarasota Area to Port Canaveral had very light traffic on this Sunday morning. Note to self, book cruises on Sunday mornings in the future.
About halfway we stopped for some last minute items at Target. We wanted to buy some Aloe just in case of any sunburns. The girls also needed some new goggles and donuts for a quick breakfast of course.
As we were getting closer, my youngest Daughter began counting down the minutes before the Park-N-Cruise exit. Soon it had arrived, and we took the off ramp and turned, left and then soon another. The signs led us to the Check In. Immediately we were greeted, and our bags unloaded for us. We pushed them over to a waiting area for our ship’s shuttle. I checked in and given tickets for the shuttle over and our return. As I mentioned before, we had purchased the Express Valet service. Our van will be parked for us now, and they will have it waiting for us when we return.
The Park-N-Cruise facilities were clean, and everyone was friendly. It was nice to find clean restrooms after the two-hour drive. After only a few moments they began loading our Shuttle Bus. The driver loaded our bags for us and then we got onboard for the quick ride over. You will be expected to tip the driver’s for the loading and to unload the luggage, so expect this. Considering my wife packs enough for a family three times our size, I typically bring extra money for tips. It’s cheaper than the $100 tip I had to pay an Airline in Switzerland for an overweight bag.
A few minutes later we were pulling up to the cruise terminal, and the Porter’s were unloading our bags and bringing them to the ship.
Getting Onboard
We arrived right before boarding had begun and after a quick check-in and wait we were onboard by 11:30 am. I think this was the fastest we have ever gotten onboard. We had to wait until 1:30 pm for them open the staterooms up. So we went to the Lido Buffet and stopped at the Mongolian Wok. We had a nice relaxing lunch and waited until the staterooms were ready.
Fresh Noodles from The Mongolian Wok
Our cabin is on Deck Six (6434), and it was a great location to the rear of the ship. It was a short walk to the elevators and stairs. We began unpacking and getting settled in for our cruise. There was plenty of storage for all of our things and my wife separated everyone’s clothes so we could easily find things. Once our luggage was empty, we quickly stowed them under the bed. We do this on all of our cruises, and it saves us a lot of room.
Meagan takes her first turn down Carnival Liberty’s slide.
By popular demand from the girls, we all changed into our bathing suits and went up to the pool, and our girls repeatedly went down the slide. We found two chairs in the shade, and it would be our go to place the rest of the cruise.
What’s For Dinner?
Before we boarded, we knew we wanted to eat at Diamond’s Steakhouse onboard. When we boarded, learned if we booked Diamonds Steakhouse we could have our choice of a free bottle of house wine (Merlot or Chardonnay) or 50% off a wine of your choice. So we made a 6:30 pm reservations.
A display for the steaks and seafood available.
A treat from the Chef, Wagyu Beef Burger
Toppings for your bread
The hearty Baked French Onion soup.
Beautiful Dining Room
New England Crab Cake Starter
Cesar Salad, Prepared Table-Side
Spiced-Rubbed Prime Rib Eye Steak
Broiled Prime New York Strip
Surf & Turf (Filet and Lobster Tail)
A visit from the Chef.
Our Chef Visited
Caramelized Washington Apples, Dessert
Chocolate Sampler, Dessert
Once we arrived for our reservations, they offered us a choice of wine. We chose the Chardonnay which was nice. The food here is fantastic, and we feel it’s a great value for anyone looking for a special meal. My family enjoyed every moment of it. It isn’t easy to choose from the tempting menu but, I finally decided to order the Spiced-Rubbed Prime Ribeye Steak. My Wife chose the Surf and Turf. It was a great way to start off our cruise with fantastic food and service. The girls had Cesar Salad, and they even made it for us tableside. The desserts were out of this world and capped off the evening.
Our Night Of Fun & Entertainment
Dive-In Movies
We looked at our entertainment options via the Carnival HUB App, which in one word is.. Amazing. We love it and I used it daily. We passed on the Welcome Aboard Show and chose to go to the DIVE-IN MOVIES which was playing the movie SING. My Daughter Meagan loved swimming in the pool while we watched the movie and ate popcorn. Does it get any better than this?
Towel Pet Visit
Once the movie was finished we headed back to our stateroom and were greeted by none other than a towel pet. This was another reminder, we were really on a cruise!
Tomorrow, Tomorrow
Tomorrow will be a Sea Day and we are looking forward to a nice day by the pool and ofcourse the many fun games. The girls can’t wait to get back by the pool and more ice cream.
Watch as Cruise Addicts sails from Port Canaveral, FL aboard Carnival Cruise Line’s, Carnival Liberty on Sunday July 16, 2017. We sailed away on a Four Night, Bahamas Cruise with stops in Nassau and Freeport. Please watch this two part Facebook Live videos below. You can also watch the videos and comments on our Facebook Page as well.
Tomorrow we will be boarding the Carnival Liberty for a four night family cruise. Of course we have had to get prepared, which is a serious process. Mani-Pedi’s for the Girls, Check. New Bathing Suits, Check. Large Quantities of Sunscreen, Check. The packing process has begun and we are printing luggage tags and getting all our documents in order. The excitement has been building ever since we booked this cruise and our two Girl’s age Eight and Sixteen can’t wait for tomorrow. This will be our Eight year old’s third Carnival Cruise. She is especially looking forward to the Shows, Chocolate Melting Cake and in her words “Forever Ice Cream”.
Since we live in Florida, we can easily drive to Port Canaveral. We often stay at a pre-cruise hotel the night before, but we have chosen to drive directly to the port this time. A first for us will be using an off site port parking service, Park-N-Cruise. They are located only two minutes away and have free shuttles for the four of us. We opted for the Express Valet service which brought our package total to $55.20 for 5 Days of parking. Compare this to $96 for basic parking in the Port Canaveral Garage. I’ll let you know how this works out for us.
I last sailed aboard Carnival Liberty in 2015 for a special Carnival LIVE Cruise, featuring Journey. It was an amazing cruise and concert. I’m looking forward to getting onboard and seeing the new additions of Seafood Shack and Ol’ Fashioned BBQ from her December 2016 Drydock. This will be my first chance to experience these two lido deck eateries. As a serious BBQ aficionado I am curious how it will compare to Guy’s Pig & Anchor BBQ I experienced aboard Carnival Magic.
Entertainment & Activities
The Girl’s and I are looking forward to seeing the Playlist Production Shows and taking part in the Sail Away and Mega Deck Parties. They love to sing and dance. At the top of our list of family activities we want to try is the Towel Animal Theatre, Hasbro The Game Show, Build A Bear Workshop and our favorite Dive-In Movies.
We purchased a Day Pass at the British Colonial Hilton – Nassau, Bahamas
Excursions Planned
I would be perfectly happy staying on the ship in some ports. However, My family loves the beach and wants to get off the ship. So I am trying something different in Nassau, Bahamas and booked our first resort Day Pass at the British Colonial Hilton Nassau. I spent allot of time looking at Day Passes and other options in both Nassau and Freeport. Some resorts restricted by age or were couples only. So the choices were limited. I settled on the British Colonial Hilton Nassau and we are really looking forward to it. I look forward reporting back on our experience.
For our day in Freeport, Bahamas we will be taking a Beach Getaway excursion offered by Carnival. It is from 8:30am to 1:15pm. We wanted to enjoy the beach in the morning and also get back to the ship for a dip in the pool before sail away. I visited this same beach back in 2015 and I can’t wait to share this piece of paradise with my family.
More Things We’re Looking Forward To
Amazing Taco’s from the Blue Iguana Cantina
I’m a big fan of the Blue Iguana Cantina and looking forward to visiting for Breakfast and Lunch. It really is wonderful.
Our cabin will be our first Quad Cabin Balcony on Carnival. In the past we had two different cabins, so I’m looking forward to having a balcony cabin and the girls are excited to try out the Upper Bed (kinda like a Bunk Bed). It even has a small ladder.
Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth met HMS Queen Elizabeth for the first time on Thursday, Jul. 6, 2017 off the coast of Scotland. The rendezvous of the two ships, that share the same name and who were both christened by The Queen, took place in the Moray Firth off the coast of Scotland during Queen Elizabeth’s 13-night tour of the British Isles.
It is a huge honour for myself and the crew of Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth to meet HMS Queen Elizabeth for the first time,” said Captain Inger Klein Thorhauge of Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth. “To share the sea with the Royal Navy’s lead ship of the Queen Elizabeth-class of aircraft carrier and the largest warship ever built for the UK is a pleasure and I would like to take this opportunity to wish Commander Kyd and his crew well with their sea trials.”
(PRNewsfoto/Cunard Line)
(PRNewsfoto/Cunard Line)
(PRNewsfoto/Cunard Line)
Defining true excellence at sea with over 176 years of legendary voyages, Cunard is the operator of luxury ocean liners Queen Mary 2®, Queen Victoria® and Queen Elizabeth®. Renowned for impeccable White Star Service, gourmet dining and world-class entertainment, all three Queens offer luxury on a grand scale in Britannia, Britannia Club, Princess Grill and Queens Grill accommodation.
Cunard is the only line to offer regularly scheduled Transatlantic service and continues the legacy of world cruising which it began in 1922.
For more information about Queen Elizabeth, or to book a voyage, contact your Travel Consultant, call Cunard Line at 1-800-728-6273 or visit www.cunard.com.
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